A Guildford councillor, who set up a petition calling for the government to make supporting UK membership of the EU a treason crime, has said the document was not linked to the Guildford Conservative Association or Guildford Borough Council’s Conservative group.

Councillor Christian Holliday, ward councillor for Burpham, wanted the government to amend the Treason Felony Act.

Guildford Borough Council confirmed a number of people had contacted the local authority about the matter and it will be looking into the complaints.

A council spokesman said: “We have received a number of complaints regarding the recent private petition by Councillor Holliday. We will consider each one and respond to the individual complainant as necessary.”